Posts Tagged "cookbook review"

This classic cookbook has been in my family for years. Though my family has a couple copies, this particular one (which I believe is a 1940s edition) belonged to my grandmother and is falling apart and missing the back cover, yet it is still the edition we all use the most. This is one of those cookbooks that you simply must refer to when making any sort of old-fashioned recipe. I’ve used it for many different things, but I religiously refer to it every single year for two recipes: apple sauce in the fall and yorkshire pudding on Christmas Eve. It is a must-have for any serious cook.

This is a must-have cookbook. It has just about every basic recipe, from how to roast a chicken, make stock, bake cakes and cookies, make icing, and, of course, how to cook just about every vegetable. Most of the book is divided by seasons, and nearly all of the recipes list variations. And as the title states, the recipes are simple. Get the book and try the carrot soup (pictured below). It is amazing. Then try every other recipe while you’re at it. I’m still working my way through the book, but everything I’ve tried so far has been perfect.

Put simply: I love this book. Over the past few years, I’ve tried many different bread recipes. Some came out well, some failed, but all of them were always too dense. That changed when I got this book. Every single recipe I’ve tried so far has been delicious. Even when I screw something up, it still somehow turns out okay. And my bread is so light and airy now! I know several people who own this book, and they all say the same thing. Richard Bertinet’s method of kneading dough is so simple that I really believe that anyone could use this book and master the art of making bread. I’ve used it so many times that there’s a thin layer of flour and even dough on many of the pages. Buy this book. Eat bread. Be happy.

And in case I haven’t convinced you enough, here are some photos of the bread I’ve made from this book.